Kuki-Chin-Naga
Encyclopedia
The Kuki-Chin–Naga languages are a geographic clustering of languages of the Tibeto-Burman family in James Matisoff
's classification used by Ethnologue
. Their genealogical relationship both to each other and to the rest of Tibeto-Burman is unresolved, but Matisoff lumps them together as a convenience pending further research.
The languages are spoken by the ethnically related Naga people
of Nagaland
, the Chin people
of Burma, and the Kuki people
. The larger among these languages have communities of several ten thousands of native speakers, and a few have more than 100,000, such as Mizo
(540,000), Thado (150,000) or Ao
(140,000).
None of these ethnicities corresponds to a linguistic unit. "Kuki" and "Chin" are essentially synonyms, whereas the Naga speak languages of several families. The families are:
Meithei
is also often included. The Konyak languages
, also spoken by ethnic Naga, are not.
James Matisoff
James A. Matisoff is a professor emeritus of Linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley and noted authority on Tibeto-Burman languages and other languages of mainland Southeast Asia....
's classification used by Ethnologue
Ethnologue
Ethnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
. Their genealogical relationship both to each other and to the rest of Tibeto-Burman is unresolved, but Matisoff lumps them together as a convenience pending further research.
The languages are spoken by the ethnically related Naga people
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
of Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
, the Chin people
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
of Burma, and the Kuki people
Kuki people
The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the...
. The larger among these languages have communities of several ten thousands of native speakers, and a few have more than 100,000, such as Mizo
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
(540,000), Thado (150,000) or Ao
Ao language
Mongsen Ao is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Ao of Nagaland in northeast India. Conventionally classified as "Naga", the Ao languages are not clearly related to other Naga languages. Gordon estimates that there are 141,000 speakers of Mongsen and Chungli Ao.Missionary grammars from the...
(140,000).
None of these ethnicities corresponds to a linguistic unit. "Kuki" and "Chin" are essentially synonyms, whereas the Naga speak languages of several families. The families are:
- Angami–Pochuri
- AoAo languagesThe Ao languages are a small family of Tibeto-Burman languages spoken by the Ao people of Nagaland in northeast India. Conventionally classified as "Naga", they are not clearly related to other Naga languages, and are conservatively classified as an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman, pending...
- Kukish
- TangkhulTangkhul languagesThe Tangkhul or Luhupa languages are a small family of Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in Nagaland in northeast India. Conventionally classified as "Naga", they are not clearly related to other Naga languages, and are conservatively classified as an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman, pending...
- ZemeZeme languagesThe Zeme languages are a small family of Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in Nagaland in northeast India. Conventionally classified as "Naga", they are not clearly related to other Naga languages, and are conservatively classified as an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman, pending further...
Meithei
Meithei language
Meitei-lon , also Meitei-lol and Manipuri , is the predominant language and lingua franca in the southeastern Himalayan state of Manipur, in northeastern India. It is the official language in government offices...
is also often included. The Konyak languages
Konyak languages
The Konyak languages, or Northern Naga, are a small family of half a dozen Tibeto-Burman languages spoken by the Naga people in eastern India. They are not particularly closely related to other Naga languages...
, also spoken by ethnic Naga, are not.